title: How to correct chromosomal trisomy.
abstract: Trisomy 21 in human causes Down syndrome, a common chromosome disorder with devastating phenotypes ranging from early death in utero to intellectual disability together with an array of physical anomalies and late-onset diseases. In a recent study published in Nature, Jeanne Lawrence and her colleagues restored normal gene expression in trisomy 21 cells by silencing the extra chromosome using XIST, the non-coding RNA that normally silences one X chromosome in females; this improved growth and differentiation of neural cells, which offers hope that some deleterious effects of the trisomy could be reversed to improve this incurable disease.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle WA98115, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Disteche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002891:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 / Q000235:genetics*; D004303:Dosage Compensation, Genetic; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding